Bending machine



'// Imn? Q// /f/ July 26, @4% v. H. VAN SANT BENDING MACHINE Filed April28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VICTOR H.VAN .SANT

Filed April 28, 1945 V. H. VAN SANT BENDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2.2Il', H' 1.3

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I 26 I 24 i .E29 36 g5 El' 14 l5 50 i *l' 41.9 E C me? Patented July 26,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEN DlN G MACHINE Victor H. Van Sant,Newark, N. J., assigner to Federal Telephone and Radio Corporation, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of ADelaware vApplication April 2,8, 1945,Serial No. 590,887

15 Claims. l

Ihis invention relates to Ia machine for bending rods, wire and simi-larsections, and particularly, for example, lead-in wire for vacuum tubes.

It -is an object of the invention to provide a machine forsimultaneously producing a double bend in a rod or wire by means of amachine having a double slide of which one slide is mov able in onedirection and the other is movable in a direction at right anglesthereto. A further object of the -invention resides in the provision ofa connecting link pivotally secured to one of the slides to exert a pullthereon at an angle to the movements of yboth slides. Another objectresides in the provision of meansto' heat, preferably by electr-icresistance, and before the bending operation, that part of the wirewhich is to be bent.

The machine thus aims to provide a slide which is so mounted that it iscapable o f moving either in -a vertical or horizontal direction orboth, or at any Yangle determined by the desired bend to be imparted inthe rod. Another object resides in the provision of means -for adjustingthe extent of movement of the slides.

Further objects will lie-apparent from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is la planview of the wire bending machine showing the`position of the parts just before' the bending operation,

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe machine showing the position .of the partsafter completion of the bending operation,

Fig. 3 -is a cross Asectional view of the machine taken yon li-neV 3 3of Fig. `1 -in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is -a cross .sectional View oi the machine taken' on line 4 4 ofFig. 1in the direction of the arrows.

The -nfachi-ne illustrated by way of example includes -a base frame orplate `I having a square or rectangular slidewayy provided therein de-vned by side faces -or surfaces |2 Vand |3. The base frame has a pair ofupstanding lugs I4, one adjacent each side vface `|12 and each lug has athreaded `hole thereinetoreceive adjustable stop bolts I5 andl6, thepurpose -of Awhich will A.be explained.

Ay rectangular mai-nslideplate or member Il is slida-bly mounted in theslideway E|| -in the di'- rection of the arrows and guided by the sidefaces II3. AsFWill 'be .seen Vlfrom Figs. l and 2, the vslidevplate |-1has alength rvjustsufiicient-to contact `the side iaces lf3 but #theVwidth is narrower than the length-of the vfaces iI3 soA that 55 2 theslide plate will reciprocate from right to left and Vice versa towardthe faces |'2. lhe slide plate is provided with a rectangular lslidewayi8 defined by side faces or surfaces I3 and and this slideway I8 isprovided with an auxiliary slide plate or member 2|. The `slide plate 2|is slideble in the diregten ,Qf .the err-,WS which is at right anglesrelative to the reciproeating movement of the slide plate Ifl and suchsliding movement is guided by the side faces 29 toward the side faces|9.

An adjustable stop -bolt 2'2 is threaded in the slide plate ll againstwhich the slide plate 2| abuts during the bending operation.

The slide plate 2| i s provided with a pivot pin 23 to which aconnecting link 24 is secured which operates the slide plates. Thislinl; has one en d of the spring 25 secured thereto by p in 26, theother end of the spring being secured to a 21 secured in the base frame|0. YrPhe slide plate 2| is also provided with a pair of clamping jaws28 and -2 9`of which jaw 28 is stationary but jaw 29 is slidable in aslot 30. A cam 3| contacts the jaw -29 to adjust it against the work andthus securely hold the work between the jaws.

Another pair of clamping jaws -32 and 33 are mounted on the base yframeI0 of which jaw 32 is stationary but jaw 33 Yis slidable in a slot 34.vA. cam 35 is pivotally mounted to adjust the jaw 33 toward the work tothereby clamp thev Work between the jaws.

On the drawings the work is indicated by a wire or rod 36 which isclamped in the jaws 28, 29, 3 2 and 33. In o rder to lprovide for theresistance heating of ythe rod 36 in its length -be-l tween the jaws,the latter are suitably insulated from each other and from the frame |0and slides |f| and 2| and the rod may also be linsulated by any suitablemeans such as an insulation s trip, not shown, provided under the wireand on the parts of the machine. Wires 3l and 38 carry electric currentto the jaws -23 and 3 2, the latter of which are preferably made ofcopper` The machine operates as follows:

'The wire 38 is clamped between both jaws' 28, 29 and 32, 33 by means`of vthe cams 3| and 35 to lhold the wire securely in the machine. Theelectric current is then turned on by any suitable switch, not shown,toheat vthe wire by resistance in vthat portion of its lengthwhich'isbetween the jaws and which is to be bent. After heating the wireto a desired degree, such for instance where it becomes almoseincandescent, theconnecting link 24 isy pulled in the direction indi-vcated `by its arrow, by means of a pneumaticV plunger, not shown,whereby the jaws 28 and 29 are moved relative to the jaws 32 and 33.Both slides |1 and 2| may move simultaneously in the direction indicatedby their arrows at right angles relative to each other or the auxiliaryslide 2| may move rst until its abuts against the stop bolt 22 and thenthe slide plate moves to the left until it abuts against the stop boltI6. Thus when slide 2| moves rst and then slide the movement of slide 2|determines the 01T- set in the wire. Furthermore the slide 2| is capableof moving either vertically or horizontally or at any angle determinedby the desired bend in the rod. 1

The duration of the heating time for the rod 36 may be controlled by atime switch, not shown, and the time switch in turn may operate thepneumatic plunger for the link 24 to produce the bending operation.

After the bending operation, Fig. 2, the wire is removed from themachine by operation of the cams 3| and 35 and the spring 25 will movethe parts back to the initial position shown in Fig. 1.

The machine is of course capable of various modifications within thescope of the invention and the appended claims. For instance the slidesI1 and 2| may have any desired thickness and both sli-des may have thesame thickness so that the slide 2| will contact the surface of theslideway It would also be possible to provide the slideways and |8 andthe slides with tongue and groove slide surfaces in order to `securelymaintain the parts in their working positions during the bendingoperation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a slideway therein, a .main slide plate mounted in said slide-Way and having a slideway therein, an auxiliary slide plate mounted inthe slideway of the main slide plate, a pair of jaws mounted on the baseframe, a pair of jaws mounted on the auxiliary slide plate, said pairsof jaws being adapted to clamp the wire on the machine, and single meansconnected to the auxiliary slide plate to reciprocate both slide platesin their respective slide- Ways during the bending operation.

2. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a slideway therein, a main slide plate mounted in said slidewayand having a slideway therein, an auxiliary slide plate mounted in theslideway of the main slide plate, a pair of jaws mounted on the baseframe, a pair of jaws mounted on the auxiliary slide plate, said pairsof jaws being adapted to clamp the wire on the machine, and one jaw ofeach pair being movable toward and away from its respective other jaw,means for clamping the movable jaw against the wire, and single meansconnected to the auxiliary slide plate to reciprocate both slide platesin their respective slideways during the bending operation.

3. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a slideway therein, a main slide plate mounted in said slidewayand having a slideway therein, an auxiliary slide plate mounted in theslideway of the main slide plate, a pair of jaws mounted on the baseframe, a pair of jaws mounted on the auxiliary slide plate, said pairsof jaws being adapted to clamp the wire on the machine, and one jaw ofeach pair being movable toward and away from its respective other jaw,means for clamping the movable jaw against the wire, single meansconnected to the auxiliary slide plate to reciprocate both slide platesin their respective slideways during the bending operation, and springmeans connected to the slide reciprocating means and the base frame toreturn the slides to their initial positions after the bendingoperation.

4. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a slideway therein, a main slide plate-mounted in said slidewayand having a slideway therein, an auxiliary slide plate mounted in theslideway of the main slide plate, a pair of jaws mounted on the baseframe, a pair of jaws mounted on the auxiliary slide plate, said pairsof jaws being adapted to clamp the wire on the machine, and one jaw ofeach pair being movable toward and away from its respective otherjaw,'cam operated means for clamping the movable jaw against the wire,and single means connected to the auxiliary slide plate to reciprocateboth slide plates in their respective slideways during the bendingoperation.

5. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base frame, afirst slide member slidably mounted on said frame adapted to moveparallel to the axis of the material to be bent, a second slide memberslidably mounted on said ilrst slide member, adapted to move thereon ina direction perpendicular to the movement of said iirst slide member,means attached respectively to said base frame and said second slidemember to clamp the material to be bent, and single means to reciprocatesaid slide members, said rst slide member regulating the angle of bendand said second slide member regulating the offset of the material to bebent.

6. A machine for bending wire and the like as claimed in claim 5,wherein said single means to reciprocate said slide members is pivotallyconnected to said second slide member.

'7. A machine for bending wire and the like as claimed in claim 6,wherein said single means to reciprocate said slide members comprises asingle link connected to said second slide member movable at an anglerelative to the movements of both slide members to reciprocate thelatter during the bending operation.

8. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a slideway therein, a main slide plate mounted in said slidewayand having a slideway therein, an auxiliary slide plate mounted in theslideway of the main slide plate, a pair of jaws mounted on the baseframe, a pair of jaws mounted on the auxiliary slide plate, said pairsof jaws being adapted to clamp the wire on the machine, single meansconnected. to the auxiliary slide plate to reciprocate both slide platesin their respective slideways during the bending operation, and stopbolts mounted on the frame to limit the movement of the main slide platein its slideway this limitation of movement being of accuratelypredetermined degree.

9. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a slideway therein, a main slide plate mounted in said slidewayand having a slideway therein, an auxiliary slide plate mounted in theslideway of the main slide plate, a pair of jaws mounted on the baseframe, a pair of jaws mounted on the auxiliary slide plate, said pairsof jaws being adapted to clamp the Wire on the machine, single meansconnected to the auxiliary slide plate to reciprocate both slide platesin their respective slideways during the bending operation, stop boltsmounted on the frame to limit the movement of the main slide plate inits slideway, and a stop bolt in the main slide plate to limit themovement of the auxiliary slide plate in the main slide plate said stopbolts on said frame and said main slide plate being accurately andcontinuously adjustable to the end that said wire and the like may bedoubly bent with accuracy when said wire and the like has a shortlength.

10. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base framehaving a rectangular slideway therein and a pair of clamping jaws, amain slide plate contacting two opposite sides of the slideway to slidethereon in one direction with clearance on the two other opposite sidesof the slideway, said slide plate having a rectangular slideway therein,an auxiliary slide plate slidably mounted in the slideway of the mainslide plate in contact with two opposite sides thereof and in adirection at right angles relative to the movement of the main slideplate, said auxiliary slide plate having a pair of clamping jaws thereinwhich with the first-mentioned pair of clamping jaws secure the wire inthe machine, and single means for exerting a pulling force on theauxiliary slide plate at an angle relative to the directions of movementof both slide plates during the bending operation.

11. A machine according to claim 10, in which the pulling force means isin the form of a single connecting link pivotally secured to theauxiliary slide plate.

12. A machine for bending wire and the like comprising a base memberhaving a slideway therein, a rst slide plate movably mounted in theslideway of said base member, said slide plate having a slideway thereinand being adapted to move parallel to the axis of the material to bebent; a second slideplate movably mounted in the slideway of said firstslide plate and being adapted to move in a direction at right angles tothe direction of the movement of said first slideplate, and meansattached respectively to said base member and said second slideplate,for hold ing a wire on said machine and for maintaining the end portionsof the wire in xed angular relation to said base and said second slidemember, and single means for causing movement of said rst slideplate toregulate the angle of bend, and movement of said second slideplate toregulate the oset of the material to be bent.

13. A machine for bending wire and the like as claimed in claim 12,wherein said single means for causing movement of said slideplatesexerts a pulling force on one of said slideplates in an angulardirection relative to the directions of movement of said slideplates forthe bending operation.

14. A machine for bending wire and the like as claimed in claim 12,wherein a plurality of stop members are adjustably mounted in the basemember to adjust and limit the movement of said rst slideplate.

15. A machine for bending wire and the like, as claimed in claim 12,wherein a stop member is adjustably mounted in the first slideplate toadjust and limit the movement of said second slideplate.

VICTOR H. VAN SANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 382,426 Howe May 8, 1888 458,115Thomson Aug. 18, 1891 966,046 Noonan Aug. 2, 1910 1,010,470 Wilson Dec.5, 1911 1,237,371 Murray Aug. 21, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 175,153 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1922

